David Swerdlick on Donald Trump: Where's the Beef?

Donald Trump is a master at stirring the pot and getting Americans to listen — but the billionaire developer has yet to reveal step-by-step specifics on how he would fix the nation's problems as president, says David Swerdlick, an assistant editor at The Washington Post.

"There's no question he's resonating, there's no question about his poll numbers and there's no question he's going to make an impact on this first Republican debate on Aug. 6. No one can dispute that," Swerdlick said Thursday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.

"People like someone who's a brash talker, but part of the reason he's able to talk brashly is because he's not really saying much about what he would actually do if he were actually elected president.

Trump, who last month joined the crowded field of candidates seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, has been under fire for his comments about Mexican immigrants who cross the border illegally, branding many of them as criminals.

And while that's led to NBC, Univision, Macy's and the PGA cutting business ties with him — a recent poll has Trump in second place behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who he has been sparring with over his immigration remarks.

"No question there are people out there who like his message, or at least his style," Swerdlick acknowledged.

"But he would have more credibility if he were to come and say … 'Look, I'm for a comprehensive immigration solution but before anything else, I want to deal with the fact there are immigrants from countries around the world that are in our criminal justice system that do commit crimes, how do we address that?'

"But instead he says, 'Oh, Mexico's tricking us into taking their unwanted people and a bunch of people coming are rapists.' That might resonate with some people, but it doesn't bespeak a president of the United States."

Swerdlick called Trump's tough talk "bombastic" and "divisive."

"He even acknowledged himself that he's divisive. Then he patted himself on the back for being tough," Swerdlick said.

Donald Trump is a master at stirring the pot and getting Americans to listen - but the billionaire developer has yet to reveal step-by-step specifics on how he would fix the nation's problems as president, says David Swerdlick, an assistant editor at The Washington Post.